Page 36 of He Loves Me Knot

Shite.He should have expected this.

Deprived of the chance to spend time with Callum, Mum would go for the next best way to needle her way into his life—through his girlfriend.

“Ah . . .” Lydia shifted, taking a step back toward Callum. “Actually, I don’t do yoga. I’m . . . not flexible.” Lydia’s voice was apologetic, but her face guarded.

“Oh, I could teach you,” Mum said with a helpful smile. “I have helped many people find their flexibility.”

“I-I . . .” Lydia looked from Mum to Callum, almost nervously. “I don’t think you could.”

“No, I insist,” Mum said and reached over and clasped her hand. “I’d like for us to be friends. And I have been a yogi for thirty years. I can really help. And you have such wonderful posture. I’m certain it would take no time to loosen you up.”

Poor Lydia. She didn’t have a fighting chance against Mum’s stubbornness.

“Mum . . .” Callum said in a warning tone. He needed to step in if Mum was going to insist.

“Callum, I really think it would be good for Lydia to spend some time with me.”

A slow blush spread to Lydia’s cheeks. “I have a fused spine,” she said softly. “I’ve had scoliosis since I was five. Unfortunately, there’s no way to loosen that.”

Oh.

Callum blinked, trying to keep his surprise at bay.

She’d never said a word about it.

Mum’s lips parted, and she gave Lydia an uncertain look as she released her hand. “Oh. Oh, I’m sorry.Disculpe.Look at me, just insisting like that. Callum, you should have told me.” She gave him a stern look. Mum didn’t like embarrassing herself.

“I-I didn’t think . . .” Callum tried to collect his thoughts more coherently. “I didn’t think it would come up.”

Mum nodded. “Bueno, I’ll think of something else. And...and if you change your mind, yoga is on the beach at sunrise. Have a fun night.” She turned and hurried away.

Callum watched her, almost feeling sorry for his mother. But now wasn’t the moment to go after her. Lydia’s revelation was personal. And regardless of their history, he needed to address it. She clearly hadn’t wanted to say anything—Mum had just insisted. And on the plane, when she’d likely been in pain from the condition, she’d chosen not to share.

He chose his words as carefully as he could as he glanced at Lydia. “You all right?”

“I guess.” Lydia lifted her camera and started back inside the bungalow.

Then that would be a no.

Callum followed and closed the door behind him. “We don’t have to talk about it. But please know I won’t share anything about your private business with anyone. You should have told me though. I’m your boss. If I had known you had a physical condition, it might have made a difference in what I expected from?—”

“I would hope not.” Lydia looked over her shoulder, her expression darkening. She turned and leaned against the door frame that led to the bathroom. “Because I spent a lifetime trying to get away from my ‘condition.’ Of people hearing scoliosis and thinking less of my abilities.” She stood to her full height. “Don’t you dare treat me differently, Callum. You go on giving me any assignment you used to. My pain levels and what I can handle are my business.”

He raised his chin, ashamed of his words. He’d been trying to be sensitive, but somehow, he’d just been a jerk again. “I’m sorry.”

“Ugh.” She rolled her eyes and came closer to him, sitting on the edge of the bed again. “This is why I don’t tell people. People treat the word disability as though it’s a negative and I don’t choose that outlook for my condition. I can’t bend at the waist and turn in certain directions. And yes, I have pain, but I’m used to it. After my spinal surgery, I got most of my mobility back. But ever since I was a kid, anytime anyone saw me in my back brace or noticed I moved differently, it was nothing but looking at me with a side-eye.”

And she probably thinks it makes me think less of her.Hell, it was probably killing her to have told him anything like that.

She massaged her temples, not looking at him. Maybe it was her stressful day, but she seemed to be less in control of her emotions.

Yet—he completely got it. She wouldn’t think he understood, but he did.

He let out a slow breath and sat beside her. “Want to go for a run? Blow off some steam?”

She cocked her head to the side. “I don’t need a pep talk, Coach.”

“I’m serious. When I’m having an awful day, working out is one of the few ways I keep my brain from exploding. And I was planning on going for a run anyway.”